Remarks &c. Duskey Bay New Zealand.

Soon after furling the sails—The Captain went with Mr. Leith to Luncheon Cove, in the Evening they returned to Supper, not an individual was left at the dwelling place, we had killed a Goat (the only remainder of our live stock) on the occasion, and I will venture to assert that a more pleasant sensation than this afforded had never been felt by any of the persons who composed this entertainment.

The informations we received were not equal to our expectations but the satisfactory intelligence of their safety exceeded them they had now been Ten Months on a Desolate (and to them) and an Uninhabited Island, without communication of any sort, and without any kind of refreshment than what we left them. They had built a Vessell of Sixty or Seventy Tons and had proceeded so far in her as to have been able to have left the place in 3 Months from the time of our arrival. Circumstances however prevented us from carrying this into execution, the time limited us by our Charter to stay at Duskey Bay was 14 Days beyond that time we were not to be considered in the service of Government nor should we receive Pay untill the time of our departure if we exceeded it.—it therefore became necessary to prepare for an early departure.

The following Morning was accordingly spent in getting a part of the Stores &c. which we had left, with a quantity of Plank intended for the Ships Decks, they being in a wretched condition. We found the weather in general unfavourable for our purpose, blowing chiefly very hard from the Nod, and being attended with very heavy rains.

Every opportunity was made use of for getting on board the above mentioned articles, which was done, the rigging repaired and every necessary completed on Wednesday October 9th. and on Thursday we unmored and warped out of the Harbour into an Inlet between One of the Parrot Islands and the Pt. of Anchor Island, we found the swell setting very heavily into the Bay and so little wind that attempting to get was impossible. We got 3 or 4 Boats load of wood and spent the remainder of the day, which was a fine one, in pleasant excursion.

This morning we had a light breeze at S.S.E., we immediately weighed and stood into the Sound—we now found the wind increase and the swell setting so violently into the Bay that the Ship would not work, we Bore up and run into Facill Harbour in the North Cove of which we anchored in the afternoon.

Nothing has been said of the Schooner, which from the inclemency of the weather both when she Parted and since that time, we all concluded was lost. A very odd circumstance occurred which gave us the greatest and the most pleasant surprize. It happened that the last Boat when was at Luncheon had forgot a Cat which was out of the House. A boat was now sent to fetch that Cat—in her I went, and on pulling into the entrance we saw to our surprize the Schooner at anchor—we learned that she had arrived on the day before after having been driven to leeward as far as the Sundays Islands, Supposed to have been discov. in our last Voyage.

She now wanted every assistance, they had not been able to make her stay she wanted repairs which they were unable to give her, and without which it would have been impossible to have ventured to Sea again. We returned on board in the evening, and 2 Boats were dispatched to bring her to Facill^*Harbour where she arrived the day after. We were now all hands Empd. in wooding and watering her. The Carpenters were empd. in making a Bowsprit and repairing her rudder and Sawyers were cutting plank for Her. On Sunday 20th. of October we had completely fitted her to proceed on her voyage we got under way and made sail out of the Sound with the Francis in Company. After a stay of 1 Mo. more than we were directed by Charter Party for which the reasons were given that detained us.

Hoisted our Colours and parted Company with the Francis.^†

Made and shortened sail occasionally.

Swell from N.N.W.